Package-hoist.



an s'raras Parana UFHMJE,

JOHN W. FLAHEB'I'Y, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

PACKAGE-H0181.

Application filed May 23, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. FLAHERTY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Seattle, county of King, State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Hoists, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to hoisting devices and consists of a package hoist which is self contained and designed to be movable from point to point, for use wherever desired.

The object of my invention is to produce a portable apparatus which may be used for hoisting package goods in warehouses and placing them in piles. It is designed more particularly for handling such packages as sacks of grain, but is capable also of handling boxes and packages of various kinds.

The features of novelty in my invention will be hereinafter described and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in the form of construction which is now most preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a top view or plan of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a side view or elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section through the connectiongetween sections, as 20 and 21, of the guide ars.

It is a common occurrence in warehouses to pile package freight to heights which are sometimes quite considerable. While large warehouses are sometimes equipped with devices for this purpose, as a rule they require a considerable space for their proper operation and in addition are not thoroughly portable. Moreover, these devices are really quite expensive and are'not adapted for use in what maybe called isolated plants, or plants which are not thoroughly equipped.

It is the design of my invention to provide a package hoist which may be used in confined spaces, which is light and easily portable and which is simple and cheap of manufacture.

The device as herein shown is mounted upon a frame structure 1, which structure is provided with wheels so that it may be readily moved from place to place. It is also provided with struts or brace rods 14 by which it may be steadied and fixedly held when placed in any given position. Upon this frame is mounted a post or tower-like structure designed to support the hoisting Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1917.

Serial No. 99,279.

mechanism whereby the packages may be raised to the height desired.

As herein shown, this structure is composed of telescoping posts, the lower and larger post 10 being fixedly secured upon the frame 1, while the sections 11 and 12, of which 11 is tubular, telescope into the tubular post 10 when the posts are lowered. Two of these posts are provided, one at each side of the frame. The upper ends of the upper sections have shaft 15 journaled therein, upon which two sheave wheels 13' are mounted.

Associated with these posts are two guide bars, these consisting of sections 2, 20 and 21, which are preferably detachable for convenience in adjusting their total length. These are preferably made to connect with each other by means of socket and pin con struction which leaves the outer surface smooth. This employs a plug 22 fixed in one section and insertible in the other. An apron 3 is provided for the receipt of the packages to be hoisted.

This apron consists of a portion 30 which, in its normal position, is vertical and a portion 31 which, in its normal position is horizontal, these two portions being connected by a curved portion. When in loading position the lower part 31 rests on the floor. It is therefore in position such that a truck loaded with packages may be run up to it and the entire load be dumped off upon the apron.

The upper end of the apron has a cross bar having secured thereto eyes 33 which slide upon the guide bars. The vertical por tion is also provided with cross bars 32 positioned to engage the outer surfaces of the guide bars. A pair of hoisting cables 34 pass over the sheaves 13 and thence down to a connection with the lower section 31 of the apron. This connection is preferably through the intervention of a spring 35 whereby the shock of starting the load is relieved.

A drum or drums 5 for the reception of the hoisting ropes 34 is journaled upon the frame.

The hoisting drums 5 are preferably operated from an electric motor 6 mounted upon the frame. This motor, through belt 60, operates a wheel 61 carried by a jack shaft 62. The pulley 63 upon the same shaft carries a belt 64 which also passes about and drives a wheel 65 carried by the shaft of the drum.

I have shown a discharge chute a as carried'upon the posts 10, 11 and 12 whereby the packages, when hoisted, may be diverted laterally or discharged in line with the ap paratus as desired. This chute has one end secured to collars 41, which are provided with means whereby they may be clamped in adjusted position upon the posts, said means, as shown, consisting in making the collar split and drawing the two sides together, as by bolt 42.

One end of the chute 4 is hingedly connected with collars 1-1 and the outer portion of this chute is supported by adjustable brace or bracket rods so, these being shown as consisting of two parts connected by turnbuckle 43. The innerends of these struts are secured to similar clamping collars 4L1. Byv setting these collars upon the two posts at the same level, the chute is transversely level, and the packages delivered thereon will be delivered in line with the hoisting apparatus. If, however, this chute be laterally tilted,as by setting the collars 11 higher upon onepost'than upon the other, the packages will be diverted laterally.

In operation, when the'apron 3 has been loaded, the apparatus isput in motion by throwing the lever 8 so as tosecure the drum to the shaft. This causes the cables 34 to be wound upon the drums ,5 and the apron 3 with its load to be moved up to the guide rods 2, 20 and 21. When the upper end of the apron, when end is controlled in posi tion by theengagement of the eyes 33 with the guide rods, reaches the upper end of the guide rods, it will begin to swing into clumping position. 7

\Vhen the-eyes 33 reach the uppermost end of the guide rods this end can go no farther and continuation of the hoisting action of the cables 34: will cause the lower end of the apron tobe swung outward'and upward into a position such as indicated by broken lines in Fig.2, wherein the contents of the apron are discharged upon a chute 4. The length of the cable or chain 81 is so adjusted that in this position the slack is all taken up and the bell crank lever 8 is thus operated to release the drum and thus permit the apron to fall.

A brake mechanism is shown mounted upon one endof the drum. This comprises a flange 77 carried by the drum and having its periphery formed as a series of ratchet teeth, and a loose ring 7 having internal ratchet teeth adapted to engage the teeth upon the flange 77. The outer surface of ring 7 is the surface engaged by the brake band 70, which band is fixedly secured by one end to abar or pin 71, and secured by its other end to lever 72, which lever is pivoted at 73. "With the drum turning in one direction the ring 7 is compelled to turn by the engagement of the radial faces of the ratchet teeth of the ring 77. When turning in the other direction the teeth may slide freely upon each other and the ring is therefore not compelled to turn.

.VVhat I claim as my invention is:

V 1. A package elevator comprising upwardly extensible posts, rope pulleys carried bythe upper ends of said posts, guide bars extending upwardly and curving laterally at their upper ends toward the posts, said guides being composed of extensible posts, a package receiving apron having guiding engagement b its uppe end with said guides,

and hoist cables passing over the rope pulleys and downward to a connection with the lower outer part of the apron.

2. A package elevator comprising upwardly extensible posts, rope pulleys carried by the upper ends of said posts, guide bars extending upwardly and curving laterally at their upper ends toward the posts,

said guides being composed of extensible posts, a package chute adjustable upon the posts and extending from just below the connection of the guides therewith.

3. A package elevator comprising upwardly extensible posts, rope pulleys carried by the upper ends of said posts, guide bars extending upwardly and curving laterally at their upper ends toward the posts, said guides being composed of extensible posts, a package receiving apron having guiding engagement by its upper end with said guides, and hoist cables passing over the rope pulleys and downward to a connection with the lower outer part of the apron, a cable hoisting means mounted'toward the base of the posts, and means for automatically controlling the operation of the cable hoist.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 16th day of May, 1916. I

JOHN V7. FLAHERTY.

Copies-0f this'pat'ent mayb'e obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, '1). G. 

